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Autumn Durald Arkapaw Biography: Age, Career, Family and More
Quick Info
Date of birth14 December 1979
Age46 Years
BirthplaceOxnard, California, United States
ProfessionCinematographer
NationalityAmerican
Marital statusMarried
SpouseAdam Arkapaw
FamilySon - Aidan; Father - Tony Bernez; Mother - Peggy Bautista; Maternal Grandfather - Guillermo Pagan Bautista
Autumn Durald Arkapaw Biography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw is an American cinematographer known for her work on features, television and music videos. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area with
Early life and backgroundAutumn Cheyenne Durald Arkapaw was born on December 14, 1979, in Oxnard, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She comes from a mixed Filipino and Black Creole family; her mother, Peggy Bautista, was born in England and her maternal grandfather, Guillermo Pagan Bautista, was an important influence on her childhood. Family pictures and her grandparents’ travel albums helped shape her early interest in visual storytelling.
Durald attended San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California, graduating in 1996. She went on to study art history at Loyola Marymount University, earning her degree in 2002, and later completed a cinematography program at the AFI Conservatory in 2009. As a young person she spent time watching films with her mother, visiting museums and taking photographs, activities that pushed her toward a career working behind the camera.
Career
After college Autumn Durald began working in advertising and as a camera assistant on film productions. Over the years she established herself as a cinematographer across several formats, including feature films, television and music videos.
Her feature credits include work on Palo Alto (2013), One & Two (2015), The Sun Is Also a Star (2019), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and The Last Showgirl (2024). On television she has credits such as On the Road in America (2007) and the series episode work that includes an episode of Loki (2021). Her music-video work spans artists and styles, with credits on London Grammar’s “Strong” (2013), Big Sean’s “Ashley” (2014), Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker” (2019) and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” (2022).
In 2025 Durald photographed the film Sinners using large-format processes: she shot on 65 mm film and employed IMAX 15-perf and Ultra Panavision 70 cameras. That project marked a milestone in her career; she became the first female director of photography to work on a large-format IMAX film. For Sinners she drew visual inspiration from a 1930s Mississippi photo book by Eudora Welty, which influenced camera choices and the film’s photographic approach.
Awards and recognition
Sinners brought Durald significant critical recognition. In 2025 she received awards and honors for the film from groups including the New York Film Critics Circle (Best Cinematography), the National Board of Review (Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography) and IndieWire Honors (Impact Award).
In 2026 her work on Sinners was nominated for and awarded some of the industry’s highest honors. She won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography at the 98th Oscars, making history as the first Black person and the first Filipino to win in that category. Her nomination earlier that year also made her the fourth woman and the first woman of color to be nominated in the Best Cinematography category. Additional 2026 honors for Sinners included awards from the National Society of Film Critics, the Prix AFC (French Society of Cinematographers), the Girls on Film Awards and the Black Reel Awards, where she became the first woman to win Outstanding Cinematography.
Public profile
Durald is often credited as Autumn Cheyenne Durald Arkapaw or Autumn Cheyenne Durald Arkapaw ASC. She is listed at approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and is described as having dark brown hair and black eyes. Her cultural background and family history—particularly stories connected to her maternal grandfather—figure prominently in narratives about her formation as an artist.
Personal life
Autumn Durald married cinematographer Adam Arkapaw in 2015. The couple have a son, Aidan. Her father is named Tony Bernez and her mother is Peggy Bautista. She maintains a connection to her Filipino heritage, including a small collection of tattoos that reference family and cultural markers; among them are initials inked in Baybayin script honoring her maternal grandfather.
Latest updates
Most recently Durald’s cinematography on Sinners has earned a run of major awards across 2025 and 2026, culminating in the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. That film and its large-format approach have become a focal point in coverage of her career, underscoring her technical range and visual influences.
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Recent Work
Cinematographer; shot on 65 mm film using IMAX 15-perf and Ultra Panavision 70 cameras; major award recognition in 2025–2026.
2025Cinematographer on the 2024 feature film.
2024Cinematographer on the 2022 feature film.
2022Career Highlights
- First female director of photography to work on a large-format IMAX film (Sinners, 2025)
- Winner of the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Sinners (98th Academy Awards, 2026)
- Recipient of multiple cinematography awards from critics’ groups and industry organizations for Sinners (2025–2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Autumn Durald Arkapaw born?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw was born on 14 December 1979.
What is Autumn Durald Arkapaw known for?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw is known for cinematographer.
What is Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s marital status?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Autumn Durald Arkapaw married to?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw is publicly listed as married to Adam Arkapaw.
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